Express & Star

Campaign to get rid of problem splinter island in Stone

More than 100 people have backed a campaign to remove a 'temporary' splinter island installed in Stone town centre eight years ago.

Published
The splinter island in Stone

The island was installed at Christchurch Way’s junction with Lichfield Road to to tackle a bottleneck in the area.

It cost £15,000 and was described as 'easily removable' if necessary.

In 2011 – shortly after it was installed – several residents and councillors spoke out against it following reports of increased journey times and gridlock for shoppers attempting to leave Morrison’s car park onto Christchurch Way.

But then-county councillor Philip Jones said there had been a positive response to the scheme.

Eight years later the splinter island is still in place. But now fresh calls have been made to remove it.

Stone Town Council member Rob Kenney has launched an e-petition on Staffordshire County Council’s website.

The petition said: "Since its installation in 2011 at the bottom of Christchurch Way in Stone – the traffic flow there has become increasingly congested.

"Through traffic and exiting cars from Morrisons car park are experiencing long delays. The carnival parade is prevented from travelling down the High Street as the right turn exit at the bottom cannot be negotiated by the HGVs.

"This also applies to emergency vehicles called to the High Street and large delivery vehicles to the High Street, all are unable to turn right. They have to continue to the Lichfield Road to make hazardous turns in small side streets to return to Stafford Street towards the A34."

Within two weeks of the e-petition’s launch 103 people had signed it.

The island was installed to filter left hand lane traffic towards the B5027 Lichfield Road and all traffic for the A34 or Crown Street into the right hand lane.

Previously both lanes could be used to access the A34 and Crown Street but the vast majority of traffic for the A34 stayed in the left hand lane, and was further slowed by traffic turning left for Uttoxeter.

County councillor Jill Hood, who represents the Stone Urban ward, told a town council meeting last year that she was meeting with county council’s highways officers to reconsider the traffic island.

She said: “The county council are of the view it should stay there unless we can prove otherwise.

"To me it is common sense we get rid of it. Keep your fingers crossed and we can persuade the powers that be it should not be there."

Councillor Helen Fisher, cabinet member for highways and transport at Staffordshire County Council said: "We do listen to residents and work with local communities when there is an issue affecting their neighbourhood.

"Following a request from the local county councillor, Highways teams will be carrying out a feasibility study on the potential removal of the splitter island. If this was identified as the best option, any improvement work would need to be prioritised against other works in the area."

By Kerry Ashdown